Blog – Page 70

House Gov. Org. Advances Four Bills in Saturday Meetings

House Committee

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March 5, 2022

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House Gov. Org. Advances Four Bills in Saturday Meetings

The Committee on Government Organization met this morning, advancing four bills.

Senate Bill 172 increases the compensation of elected county officials. The bill advances.

Senate Bill 253 designates the Secretary of State as the state’s liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau for purposes of redistricting phases for the federal decennial census. The bill requires county commissions to submit information to the Secretary of State relating to precinct updates. The bill advances to the floor.

Senate Bill 492 authorizes the use of nonrenewal of vehicle registration provisions shall be effective whenever a reciprocal enforcement agreement is entered into by the West Virginia Parkways Authority, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and any state sharing a common border with the state. The bill advances.

Senate Bill 698 expands the number of members on the Governor’s Veterans Council from 9 to 11 members. The bill also amends the criteria on how members are selected. The bill advances.

Both Budget Bills Advance to Second Reading in House

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 5, 2022

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Both Budget Bills Advance to Second Reading in House

The House briefly convened Saturday morning, passing two bills.

Senate Bill 524 places the State Library Commission and the National Coal Heritage Area Commission under the Department of Arts, Culture, and History.

Senate Bill 650 removes the requirement of seven or more royalty owners for utilization n by an operator for the lawful use and development by cotenants.

Both Senate Bill 250 and House Bill 4023, budget bills, were read for the first time. The bills will be in the floor amendment stage on Monday.

Thirteen bills were on second reading, and one was amended.

Senate Bill 531 updates the salaries for State Police officers. The amendment changed the pay increase from $2,550 to $10,000.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 11 a.m. in Room 215E.

The Finance Committee will meet at 11:15 a.m. in Room 460.

The Education Committee will meet at 11:30 a.m. in Room 434.

Committees – Monday, March 7, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Education Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 434.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Public Hearings

The Committee on Education will host a public hearing Monday, March 7, 2022 at 8 a.m. on Senate Bill 498 – Creating Anti-Racism Act of 2022.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will host a public hearing on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 9 a.m. on Senate Bill 694 – Relating to oil and gas conservation.

The Finance Committee will host a public hearing on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 6 p.m. on Senate Bill 1 – Creating Mining Mutual Insurance Company.

Convention of States Resolution Focus of House Floor Session

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 4, 2022

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Convention of States Resolution Focus of House Floor Session

The House adopted six resolutions and passed eight bills today.

House Concurrent Resolution 31 calls for a convention of states to propose amendments to the constitution relating to fiscal restraints of the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its official and for members of Congress.

The resolution generated a long debate. Proponents of the resolutions believe the federal government has gone too far fiscally and no longer represents the ideals of the people. They feel the only way to create changes is to call an article 5 convention to make amendments to the constitution of the United States.

The opponents fear the convention could take place in secrecy, which could lead to a complete re-write of the constitution, as it did when the Constitution was ratified from the Articles of Confederation. They also fear representation of each state would not be equal and West Virginia, being a smaller state, could negatively affected.

Both sides are uncertain that a convention would get 38 states to ratify the constitution.

Senate Bill 448 clarifies that the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee is responsible to develop, update, and implement policies, as well as revoke, suspend, or modify uses of the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network.

Senate Bill 537 provides for civilian firefighters and civilian security guards assistance for the WV National Guard under specific circumstances.

Senate Bill 598 authorizes programs to assist at-risk veterans through partnerships with service organizations, government agencies, military organizations, or private entities engaged with their local veterans’ communities to connect veterans and their families with exciting resources to combat suicide.

The House is adjourned until 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.

Committees – Saturday, March 5, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. in Room 410.

The Education Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 215E.

The Rules Committee will meet at 9:45 a.m.

Public Hearings

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will host a public hearing on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 9 a.m. on Senate Bill 694 – Relating to oil and gas conservation.

House Education Considers Senate Bill 704

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 4, 2022

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House Education Considers Senate Bill 704

House Education met this morning to consider Senate Bill 704.

Senate Bill 704 creates a new section of code. It requires each classroom teacher to comply with any request by a parent, grandparents, or guardian to inspect any instructional material and books om the classroom, that are available to students to read. The bill requires the teacher to demonstrate how the supplementary instructional material relates to the content standards adopted by the State BOE. The bill requires the classroom teacher to include any book or books students will be required to read on a class syllabus. The bill requires the syllabus to be available to the parent, grandparent, or guardian upon request. If a teacher does not comply with this section, then the parent, grandparent, or guardian may file a complaint to the county superintendent. And then the state superintendent if the complaint is not resolved in the county in seven days.

The bill brought several questions before the committee for both the State BOE and committee counsel. Below are answers to some of the questions asked.

Parents, grandparents, or guardians would have to schedule a meeting to inspect materials. Parents, grandparents, and guardians can only review instructional materials for their child, not another child, who may have different materials. Public education materials can already be provided at the request of guardians. Teachers have been posting the resource items on some learning management systems.

The board representative stated the bill codifies at the state level federal law.

The bill is reactive in the sense that the parent must request to see the materials for a syllabus to be sent to them.

The board will record the number of complaints and report the number to the state superintendent each year. Complaints could be curriculum does not align to standards or teachers failed to comply with providing material. If the complaints are founded, they could be part of the review.

The bill does not have a timeframe for the syllabus to be amended if it would change from the beginning of the year.

Syllabi are currently only required in advanced placement courses. A syllabus is not defined in the bill. Therefore, a syllabus could just be a list of books and materials used during the course.

The board representative was not aware of any teacher or parent who had requested this bill.

During the amendment stage, the word “grandparent” was replaced with “custodian.”

An amendment was offered to give 10 days for a county superintendent to resolve a complaint. The amendment was rejected. An amendment changes the word “may” to “shall” to require a parent/custodian to schedule a teacher if he/she has a complaint. The amendment was rejected.

The committee adjourned for session. The bill will be back on the agenda during the next meeting.

Senate Passes Budget, Memorializes Sue Cline

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 4, 2022

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Senate Passes Budget, Memorializes Sue Cline

The Senate passed its version of Budget Bill for fiscal year 2023 during Friday morning’s floor session.

Senate Bill 250 maintains the $4.645 billion figure set by Governor Jim Justice in the budget he presented to the Legislature at the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session. The figure is a 1.4 percent increase from a revised revenue estimate of $4.579 billion for the current fiscal year ending in June.

The increase is due to a proposed 5 percent pay raise for state employees, teachers and school service personnel, at a cost of approximately $120 million. Another $41 million is required for inmate medical care due to court mandates and healthcare inflation.

The Senate’s budget now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Also on Friday, the Senate memorialized the life of former Senator Sue Cline with the adoption of Senate Resolution 49

Cline was appointed to the Senate in 2016 and served the people of the 9th District until 2020. She was a lifelong resident of Wyoming County. Cline passed on Dec. 29, 2021. She was 75.

UPDATE

The Senate reconvened briefly Friday afternoon to receive House messages and committee reports.

The body adopted HCR31, urging the Congress of the United States to call a convention of states.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, March 7, at 11 a.m.

Judiciary is meeting at 1:50 p.m. in 208W

Monday Morning Meetings:

Judiciary at 9 a.m. in 208W.

Pensions at 10 a.m. in 451M.

Finance Committee Advances House Budget Bill

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 3, 2022

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Finance Committee Advances House Budget Bill

The Finance Committee met this afternoon to review the committee substitute for House Bill 4023, Budget Bill.

A few changes were made between the originally introduced bill and the committee substitute.

The committee substitute made $27,572,802 in budget improvements. Improvements were made to the House of Delegates, the Supreme Court, Public Defenders, Foster Care, State Troopers, Veterans Assistance, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Economic Development, Broadband, and more.

The committee substitute made $31,618,794 in budget cuts. The cuts included $7 million from Tourism (Brand Promotion), $2,771,363 from Jobs & Hope, $14 million from WVU and $8 million from Marshall University.

The Budget total is $4,645,423,992. The budget is balanced.

The Legislature’s budget is $25,596,694. The Judicial Branch’s budget is $146,318,036. The Executive Branch budget is $46,721,407.

An amendment was offered and rejected. The bill advances to the House Floor.

Senate Honors Former Senator Joe Minard

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 3, 2022

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The Senate adopted SR47 on Thursday afternoon, a resolution memorializing life of the Honorable Joseph Michael Minard.

Minard was a member of the Senate, representing the 12th district from 1990 until 1994, and again from 1998 until 2013. He was also a Delegate in the House of Delegates from his appointment in 1983 through 1990. Minard was also the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Minard passed away at his home on Jan. 17. He was 90 years old.

Also on Thursday, the Senate read the Budget Bill a second time. It will be up for a passage vote on Friday. The Senate also suspended the constitutional rules to pass 10 supplemental appropriation bills and advanced 14 bills from first reading.

The Senate reconvened briefly at 5 p.m. to take up committee reports.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 4, at 9 a.m.

Brief House Floor Session, Afternoon Committee Meetings Scheduled

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 3, 2022

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The House convened this morning completing legislative action on two bills and a resolution.

House Bill 4084 allows for advanced recycling to take place in the state.

House Bill 4126 allows the DHHR to create rules relating to Methods and Standards for Chemical Tests for Intoxication.

House Joint Resolution 102 clarifies that the policymaking and rule-making authority of the State BOE is subject to legislative review, approval, amendment, or rejection.

The House also adopted nine resolutions. Three bills advanced back to the Senate.

Senate Bill 419 allows the DHHR to enter into contracts with managed care organizations that allow payments based upon performance-based metrics.

Senate Bill 499 authorizes the School Building Authority to create rules for the funding of School Building Authority Projects.

Senate Bill 713 removes the statutory limit of $300,000 for the Environmental Laboratory Certification Fund. The bill allows for field tests and remote monitoring or testing equipment to be certified by the laboratory certification program.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Friday, March 4, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Energy and Manufacturing Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.

The Government Organization Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committees – Friday, March 4, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Education Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 434.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m.

Public Hearing

The Energy and Manufacturing Committee will host a public hearing Friday, March 4, 2022 at 8 a.m. on Senate Bill 650 – Eliminating number of royalty owners required for utilization by operator for lawful use and development by co-tenants.

Senate Passes Bill to Merge Pierpont CTC with Fairmont State

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 2, 2022

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Senate Passes Bill to Merge Pierpont CTC with Fairmont State

The Senate passed a bill Wednesday evening that would absorb Pierpont Community and Technical College into Fairmont State University.

Senate Bill 653 would reunify Pierpont and Fairmont State, making Pierpont into a “division of Fairmont State.” If the bill completes in the House, Pierpont will become the Fairmont State University Pierpont College of Community and Technical Education.

The bill, and subsequent merger, would add three new members to Fairmont State’s Board of Governors, including two faculty members – at least one of whom would be elected to the position by Pierpont’s faculty – and one new member, appointed by Governor Jim Justice, “who has knowledge and practical experience in community and technical education.”

Also under the bill, the Dean of the Pierpont College of Community and Technical College will be appointed by Fairmont State’s president, and an advisory board on matters related to community and technical college would be appointed by the chairman of the Fairmont State Board of Governors. The chair of the advisory board would also be a voting member of Fairmont State’s Board of Governors.

If the bill completes action, at the time of the unification, all Pierpont employees would become employees of Fairmont State University.

The legislation now moves to the House of Delegates for consideration.

This concludes Crossover Day. The Senate will only consider House bills from this point forward.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Judiciary will continue its meeting from earlier today at 6:30 p.m. in 208W

Education will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 451M.

Katherine Johnson Academy Passes House

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 2, 2022

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The House reconvened to consider the remainder of today’s calendar.

House Bill 4845 establishes the Katherine Johnson Academy as a magnet school program at colleges and universities in West Virginia. The program allows students to receive dual credits for high school and college.

House Bill 4336 revises the methodology for property tax assessments by the Tax Commission to value property producing oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The bill sponsor stated the bill makes the tax structure constitutional. Opponents of the bill were concerned about the financial burden it could place on the counties, but the proponents argued that the counties are at risk of legal action due to the current tax structure. The bill advances to the Senate.

House Bill 4353 synchronizes local elections with statewide elections.

House Bill 4467 establishes a project model to provide early childhood classroom assistant teachers in first-grade classrooms with more than 12 students.

House Bill 4844 states teachers cannot be forced to give up their planning or lunch to substitute or perform other duties. A teacher may volunteer to give up lunch/planning but cannot be required to do such.

House Bill 4848 creates alcohol licenses for private bakeries, private cigar shops, private college sports stadiums, and private food trucks. The bill also permits private hotels and private resorts to be able to have minibars in rooms for guests 21 and over. The bill authorizes frozen wine slushes in wine growlers to be sold. The bill was amended to allow merchandise to be sold by vendors selling alcohol.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Finance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 460.

Committees – Thursday, March 3, 2022

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m.

The Government Organization Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.